At tonight's session, I had my student look at sight word cards and read from sight word books. She did well for the short session and I am eager to do more with her. I will be administering the Reading Assessment on Phonemic Awareness this week and then summarizing my sessions for my report. I have found that by putting information that I have into a draft format of the Diagnostic Report, helps me to organize my thoughts and know how I want to present the data. It also helps me to feel less harried - like I am really accomplishing something.

My quote today from Harriet Tubman: "there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other...I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted." After more careful thought about what she said, I am thinking that as a slave who was helping others escape slavery, she knew the price she would have to pay if she were caught. She wanted liberty - freedom for her and others which is why she took great risks and worked hard to stay free. I am also thinking that death did not have to be physical but in her spirit. Maybe for her it was a question of what is life if there is no freedom? (image by Faye: taken at UCLA Children's Hospital)

session 4

The class session was spent continuing the series of QRI assessments. The focus of last weeks session was on the narrative assessments. This week's session was dedicated to the expository assessments. Just as expected, the student scored at the frustration level. We're told to include these in the case report, however these new assessments shed no light on the reading level of the student.

Nature is understand to those who have faith (paraphrased).

Wordsworth.

There is always wisdom in everything and everything happens for a reason.

Session 4

Quote: " I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream.

I interpret this quote as, you think of whatever it is that you want to do and you set out to accomplish it.

Class was good. I was able to complete my session report #4. I prepared in advance knowing that my student might not be able to make it to class today. Sessions are getting easier and I am liking the Reading assessment that Dr. Rivera had given me. Only a couple of more sessions to go. I plan to use the holiday on Monday to work more with my student.

Faye: Enjoy your trip and don't work to hard. Spend lots of money!

Alan: Let me know if you need anything, I'm there.

Dar: Hang in there, if you need my support, I am there for you.

Happy Halloween!

October 19 session

This session we did the PREL word list. He did a little better with this list then he did with the QRI list. However, he still didn't pass at a proficient level. Faye was able to secure a LAS assessment. I am not too familiar doing the assessment but I did it anyways. He scored about 50% on the vocabulary section of the test. He got one correct on the next session. I am not sure how to score but I'll figure it out. We did the narrative part of the pre-primer of the QRI. I'm understand that we need to have something to include in our report however I'm still confused as to way we have to do assessment which we know doesn't apply. The pre-primer list was scored at the frustration level. The QRI seems to be designed in such a way that if they are scored at frustration level that they don't move on to the next assessment.

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

Thomas Edison

Genius is all about hard work.

Literacy Assessment October 19, 2009

Tonight's session was pretty interesting with my student. She really likes listening to stories and in retelling. The Literacy Assessment for Emergent Readers and Writers is really helping me to get a better understanding of her issues with reading. I was very happy to receive the assessment tool from Dr. Rivera. Having scanned it quickly in class I already found a few assessment pieces there that might give me more information on my student. I will go over it more thoroughly tonight after this assignment. If any of you find something in the book that might be useful for me, please point me in the right direction. I will do likewise.

My quote tonight is "Success takes time." by Jason Gracia. To be truly successful, I have to take the time to work at whatever it is that I am pursuing . Take the time to do good work, take the time to do make sure that all the kinks are ironed out. Take the time to make sure that the major questions have been answered. Rushing or taking shortcuts to save time will most likely result in poor quality outcomes. (Image by Faye - Talofofo Falls, Guam)

Session 3

I wasn't able to hold an assessment session today because my student was at a doctor's appointment. I was however, able to review a diagnostic case report and get a feel of how it is written, what information is required in it and grasp the concept of how I will attempt to put mine together. I think the more information you gather the better chance you will have of having a throughly written diagnostic report. Dr. Rivera also provided another assessment manual that we could use with our students. Looking through it, I think I will be able to use it and my student will find that it may be easier to do than the other assessment strategies that I have used with him so far.

Quote: " A chattering bird builds no nest" By: African Proverb

My interpretation of the quote is that, the more you talk and less you work, in the end you will never get anything done.

Assessment Session

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” By: Eleanor Roosevelt.
No one can put you down without you allowing them to do so. Stand up for yourself at all times.

Assessment sessions seem to be frustrating because I am not too sure of the direction that I am supposed to be heading in. I understand that I am to assess my student with the various types of assessments that are available but what do you do when the child can’t even answer the simplest assessment out there. Help!

Image:www.google.com

1st Clinical

"Twelve Priceless Qualities of Success: 

The value of time.

The success of perseverance.

The pleasure of working.

The dignity of simplicity.

The worth of character.

The power of kindness.

The influence of example.

The obligation of duty.

The wisdom of economy.

The virtue of patience.

The improvement of talent.

The joy of originating."

 ~ Marshall Field

I sincerely feel that if only all individuals embraced these qualities, our existence, although short lived will succeed even our greatest expectations.

“Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.”

- Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor of France)

I believe that the word “impossible” is just a word in the dictionary.

My quote for tonight was from President Theordore Roosevelt and he said, " Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." This about sums it up for my "concerns" with my assessment assignment. I am limited to what is available so I have to make the most of it. Of course I can add Alan's quote to mine to paddle my own canoe to get moving. Has anyone read this book - Diary of a Worm? It is a really cute book. It will make you smile. (image from google.)

2nd assessment results: FRUSTRATION

If I were being assessed today, I would be assessed at the frustration level. Without a doubt. During the first assessment, It was determined that student was a lot lower then I had first thought. So to figure out exactly what level he was, we did some of the word lists. He ended up scoring a 60% on the pre-primer list. The QRI book discusses that one of the purposes of the word lists is to determine what set of reading material to continue with. It doesn't seem that the QRI offers any materials to use if the student doesn't score independent on at least the pre-primer list. So as a result, I have to start from scratch, hence the frustration.

I can't remember my quote but it went something like this:

If you want to go forward, you have to row your own boat

Catherine Hepburn

Your the only one who can move you forward.

1st Literacy Assessment

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." -- Forest Witchcraft

I always strive to touch each and every child's life in my classroom by creating a fun filled educational setting and trying to meet the needs of all the different types of learners in my classroom.

Class started out for me kind of sketchy because I wasn't to sure what route to take as I began my assessment with my student. I managed to get some things done with him and I look forward in seeing how next class session will go. See you then!

http://www.google.com/

Literacy Assessment Reflection - Oct. 5, 2009

"The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won't work-if you won't."
-- Zig Ziglar

This simply means that whaever you think is important or critical, is only important and critical to you until you put effort into making it important and/or critical to others. Otherwise, it is merely your own belief and it goes nowhere.

Tonight's session was good practice for what's to come. I wasn't too sure what I was supposed to do but after the in class reflection, I think I have a better handle of what I need to do next. This image was taken at Umatac Bay by Faye.